MATRC Treat Around 4,500 Drug Addicts

The three Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (MATRCs) have spent more than Rs.45 million for providing treatment to more than 4500 drug addicts during last five years

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th May, 2018 ) :The three Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (MATRCs) have spent more than Rs.45 million for providing treatment to more than 4500 drug addicts during last five years.

These MATRCs are being run under supervision of Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) - one each at Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi. The treatment centre at Karachi is run with the donations of philanthropists.

Giving break-up of expenditures of two centres, sources at Interior Division on Tuesday said during year 2014-15, the government provided around Rs 13 million to Islamabad MATRC while Rs 9.5 million was provided to Quetta centre.

Similarly, the sources said during year 2015-16, the expenditures incurred in MATRC Islamabad were Rs 11.5 million and Rs 5.9 million in Quetta centre. Islamabad MATRC also spent Rs 0.7 million in six months (July to December 2016).

Regarding centre-wise details of patients treated, the sources said three MATRCs provided treatment to 1285 addicts in 2014 including 384 in Islamabad centre, 380 in MATRC Quetta and 521 in MATRC Karachi.

In 2015, three MATRCs provided treatment to more than 1210 addicts including 398 in Islamabad centre, 261 in MATRC Quetta and 551 in MATRC Karachi. In 2016, three MATRCs provided treatment to 913 addicts including 319 in Islamabad centre, 6 in MATRC Quetta and 588 in MATRC Karachi.

During 2017, the number of patients treated at MATRC Islamabad was 346 and 100 in 2018 while the number of patients treated in Karachi MATRC was 726 in 2017 and 221 in 2018.

The sources said Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control was also constructing a 100-bedded drug treatment hospital in Peshawar and also another in Sukkur for treatment and detoxification of drug users in the province.

The sources said the treatment centers provide free treatment, boarding and lodging facilities to drug addicts. MATRC Islamabad and Quetta (45 bedded)) are government funded while MATRC Karachi (55 bedded) is being run on self help basis (donors support).

Giving further details, the sources said in Islamabad a 45-bedded Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre was established at Thanda Pani, Lehtrar Road which has now been shifted at Model Town, Industrial Area, Islamabad.

This MATRC has been working since 2005 with capacity to provide free of charge medical treatment and rehabilitation to 360 drug addicts per year. The centre has been converted from development budget to non-development budget such as established on permanent footing.

In Quetta, the a 45-bedded Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre was established at Chaman Housing Scheme, Airport Road and has been working since 2005 with capacity to provide free of cost medical treatment and rehabilitation to 360 drug addict per year.

Moreover, a 55-bedded Model Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre was established in May 2010 at Kalri (Lyari), Karachi. The centre is working with a capacity to provide free of cost medical treatment and rehabilitation to 440 drug addicts per year.